Centering device



Aug. s, 195o 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 -Filed July 1l, 1944 INVENTOR HERBERT H.SMITH ATTORNEY Aug. 8, 1950 I' I H. H. SMITH 2,517,728 l CENTERINGj DEVICE 1 l Filed July 1l, 1944 y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 KINVENTOR HERBERT H.SM|TH awa ATTORNEY Aug. s, 195o H. H. SMITH 2,517,728

CENTERING DEVICE Filed July 1l, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR n HERBERT H. SM|TH ATTORNEY adapted for contact Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNITED STATES n 2,517,728 oEN'rEmNo DEVICE Herbert H. Smith, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to and Steel Castings Conipany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July l1, 1944, serial No. 544,428 Y National Malleable Claims.

This invention relates to a centering device for car couplers.

The couplers for small railway cars, particularly those employed in mines, ordinarily must be capable of rotating laterally through a relatively wide angle. Such couplers tend to remain in an angular position when moved laterally for any cause unless means are provided to restore them to a central position. Centering devices have been heretofore proposed for this purpose, but many occupy considerable space on the under rigging of the car, a serious disadvantage in the installation of the devices on cars already equipped with relatively elaborate draft rigging equipment.

In accordance with this invention, a centering device for car couplers is wholly contained within the shank of the coupler. This arrangement is compact and does not interfere with the rigging already installed on cars. The centering device comprises a spring actuating plunger mounted within the shank of the coupler. The plunger has a plurality of laterally spaced bearings with corresponding laterally the attaching means for the coupler located on the car. Desirably, the coupler has a rearwardly bifurcated hollow shaft having a spring means in the shank which reacts in one direction :against a spring abutment in the shank and in the other direction against a transversely extending surface on the connecting spaced surfaces on means on the car for connecting the coupler to n the car. The connecting means on the car extends between the bifurcationsy of the shank. The spring means and laterally extending surfaces are so constructed and arranged as to provide a contact therebetween to produce an additional component of force to one side of the centerline of the coupler when the coupler is angled from the central position, tending to move the coupler to the central position.

The invention is applicable to couplers with or without resilient or cushioning means for shock absorption purposes. For example, the centering device of this invention may be incorporated in the shank of a coupler on a car which has no resilient means such as that vwhich obtains on some locomotives in which the resilient means is associated with the coupler of a mine car. Again, as in the iirst specific embodiment of this invention illustrated, the centering device may be associated with the resilient means. In this embodiment the laterally spaced surfaces which contact the spring means are located on the front follower of the resilient means of the coupler. These spaced surfaces may, of course, be associated with different types of draft rigging utilizing resilient means. For example, the spaced surfaces may be. associated with a yoke employed extensively for certain types of resilient means.

l VAn object of this invention is to center V.the coupler of cars effectively and economically.

2 Another object of this invention is to render responsive substantiallyv immediately the position of the couplers on a train of cars to angular. changes in the track over which the car passes.

Another object ofthis invention is to position a coupler on a min-e car or the like to a substantially central position when the coupler thereof is rotated for the emptying of the car. A more comprehensive understanding of this. invention is obtained by reference to the :accompanying drawings, in which: f Figure 1 shows a horizontal section of the cen--v tering device of this invention, associated witha tail bolt on a draft rigging.

Figure 2 illustrates a Vertical section of thecen` tering device shown in Fig. 1 along the line 2-2 thereof. i Figure 3 is a partial horizontal section showing the angular movement of the centering device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a plane view and side view respectively of parts of the centering device shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Figure 6 illustrates an. end viewr ofone of the parts shownI in Figs. 4 and-5. l -1 Figure '7 showsa horizontal section of a modification of the centering device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6; and l Figure 8 shows a vertical section of the modl, cation of the centering device shown in Fig. '7, along the line88 thereof. l n In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, a coupler I0 has a rearwardly ex. tending hollow shank Il which isconnected toa cushioning means located on the car. The cush. ioning means may be of any type and consist in the embodiment illustrated of front and rear folv lowers I2 and I3, respectively, with appropriate lugs I4 for abutments to restrict the horizontal movement of the fo-llowers within predetermined limits. Between the `front follower I2 and the rear follower I3 a helical spring I5 is extended,` reacting in one direction against the front follower I2 and `in the other direction against the rear follower I3. In juxtaposition of the front follower I2 is a coupler buttv seat I6 whichlis. adapted to receive the butt end of the coupler1 shank I I. .A tail bolt rI'I passes through the rear follower I3, the spring I5, front follower I2 and coupler butt seat I6, and serves as part of the; connecting means for connecting the shank It of the coupler to the follower acting means. The butt end of the hollow shank I I is adapted to angle within a predetermined arc in the butt seat IG and is bifurcated so as to extend above and below the end of the tail bolt II adjacent butt seat I6. The shank II of the coupler is connected to the follower acting means or other resilient means on the car by means of a vertical pin I8 which passes through each of the bifurcations of the shank and the tail bolt Il, affording relatively angular movement between the shank and the follower acting means. In the hollow rearward end of the shank ll a centering plunger i9 is actuated by a spring 20. The spring reacts in one direction against an abutment 34 in the shank l l and through it, toward the head of the coupler ID. In the. other direction the spring 2U reacts against the centering plunger I9. The centering plunger I9 is biiurcated and has at least two laterally spaced bearings 2 l, one of which is on each side of the vertical pin i8. `At least two transversely laterally extending surfases '42. ene ef. whleli leien. eaeh eide. el the. ver- .lleelhlll le., are leeeted en the butt. Seat t6. er

other lneens 01.1. the, eer fer attaching the. eeuieler le the Eeeh ef. the laterally, extending Surieeee. 2,?. le adeptes. le.. receive and. le eelltae't one Q15 ille. laterally epeeed. bearings 2l.

The. .eenstruellerl ei the. spring. actuated latere ally spaced bearings 2l and laterally spaced serleees 2.2. alleles en. estrema-y eeelsieeterv fer eenter...1.1.e the eeuple on the ear- When the coupler is angled from the central posilisa the eecleei between elle Deir ef lhe leiterellr eseeeel. hearings. 2.1. and its asseeiateel pair ef the laterally spaced surfaces 2,2 produces an ad dlileriel. eempeserl. ef. ,feee le. one. eide el; elle centerline @lille eender. tendina le, nieve. the coupler tothe central position. This is illusf. tule@ ln. lila. .3, which the. shank Il. ef the e. ler is @here eagles e. eleelswiee dlreelliee willi leslie@ le ille-ear 01.21 which. tlle eeupler bull. seat I6 and tail bolt l1 are located. This action illnesses. the. eemrreesieu the spring. 'lll- The @eating ZI.. Wlileh. eeliteet with the, serieuse 22, is actuated by the spring 2Q through the oenledge. plusser '9, te. elteeluee additional. .eemponent #of force in leildllg. te leere the, Sheet. ll @nel elle .eelipler le .erlltrel resille@ The bett. seal le. le een: structed so that it is capable of rotating 3 60 in relellen. t9 the fleet. fellewer llwllec the eer le chiel; ille. fellewer l2. is allee ed. related in.

accordance with the practice orenjlptyingcars in llelrlf. This. eenslruellen, le.. eher/.H irl Fla. 6 lli Hillel@ the. eelllelfer. bell Seel limer be related. relative le. the eer- For exemple. the eeilpleli together vyimthe esti: Y o While; the eer with. lis. eseeeleledfellewel: @elise meehe. le related. le. ery. allele desired.- this' mennerlelle er, e plurality ef: Cerem trein. nier be related 'While the. remaining eers. allie elletleneryelnellffleeA il le deelreble le prevlde melius.. ier example, a recession 2.34 on the front follower and a 'corresponding projection 24 on the coupler biitt seat, for locking the coupler in a vertical position. when the coupler is in its normal position. i

'In Figs. '7 and 8 there i s illustrated a modiiication of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 6. A spring means comprising a spring and a centering-plunger 26 'is contained within a hollow bifurated shankA 21. The spring 25 reacts in one direction against an abutment 28 and in the means other`v direction against the plunger 26. By

of a vertical pin 29 the shank 2-'ly ofthe coupler isconnected to a tail bolt 3 0, forming' part of the resilient means for` absorbing shock on the car. The tail bolt 3Q is constructed s o that the bifurcations of the shank Z1 I it in recesses in the tail bolt. The plunger 26 desirably extends laterally on each side of the vertical pin 29. Each of the lateral extensions of the 3|. A Corresponding laterally spaced bearings 3-2 on the tail bolt 3U cooperate with the bearings 3 I plunger-26 form bearings 1 located on.' the lateral extensions of they plunger 26. The bearings 3| contact the laterally spaced bearings 32 to produce an additional component of force to one side of the centerline of the coupler when the coupler is angled from the central position tending tc move the coupler to the central position in substantially the same manner as inthe rst embodiment illustrated.

In the two embodiments illustrated, the centering device of this invention has been attached to a resilient or shock absorbing means located on the vcva-r. The centering device, however, may be attached le. the ear by any eenneetlns means lecatcd on the car which connecting means does not necessarily involve shock absorbing or resilient means. For example, the centering device l l nvention may be connected by means of a vertical pin to any bolt iixably attached to the car which is an appropriate position. rlChe attaching means located on the car in such cases have bearing surfaces similar to the surfaces 22 Y shown' in the first embodiment and surfaces 32 shown in the second embodiment.

Seel. lli-remains elellenery The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not oi limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within4 the scope 01"- the invention claimed.

' vWhat is` claimed is:

1. In a coupler including a hollowv shank, means; for attaching said shank to a car including a vertical pin passing through said shankY and a tail holtmemben said tail bolt member being detachably secured to the car structure for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said member, scat means at the end of said tail holt, and a centering device in said shank comprising a plunger mounted within said shank, saidrplunger having a plurality or" transversely spaced bearings in contact with said seat means, spring means irr'said shanl; reacting against said shank and plunger for urging said plunger bearings againsty said seat means, and l'ongitud'nally extending guide meansl on said plunger disposed laterally of saidj spring means and adjacent a side wall of said shanlf and adapted to engage therewith to maintain said plunger in proper operating position during horizontal angling of the coupler.

2,. A centering device for a coupler comprising a tail bolt adapted for operative connection to a car structure, seat means associated with'the forward end oi'saidv tail bolt, a hollow coupler shank pivotally connected to the forward end of said tail bolt, a centering plunger entirely within the confines o f said shank, said plunger bearing against said seat means at transversely spaced points thereon, spring means, within said shank reacting against 'said plunger and against stop means in said shank to urge said plunger against said seat means at said spaced points, and longitudinally extending guide means on s aid plunger positioned laterally of said spring means and being adapted to engagev the inner side of said shank, to maintain said plunger in proper operating position when the coupler is angled in a horizontal direction.

3. In combination, a coupler having a hollow shank, means for mechanically connecting said coupler with a cushioning means on a car includf ing a coupler butt seat for receiving the end of' said shank, said seat having a central opening, a tail bolt member extending through said opening in said seat and having its forward end received in said shank and being pivotally connected thereto, said membel1 being detachably secured with respect to said cushioning means for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said member, a plunger, and a longitudinally extending spring within said shank reacting between said plunger and stop means in said shank, said plunger bearing against said coupler butt seat at points spaced transversely of said coupler shank, said plunger having longitudinally extending guide means positioned adjacent a side wall of said shank and being adapted to engage therewith to limit lateral movement of said plunger with respect to said shank during horizontal angling of the coupler.

4. In combination, a coupler including a hollow shank, a couple-r butt seat engaging the end of said shank, said seat having a central opening, a tail bolt member extending into said opening and being pivotally connected to said shank, said tail bolt member being detachably secured to a car structure for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said member, a centering device contained entirely within said shank and comprising a spring actuated plunger adapted for engaging said coupler butt seat, and means for guiding the horizontal movement of said spring actuated plunger throughout substantially the entire length thereof, said centering device being so constructed and arranged as to remain in xed relation to said shank during rotation of said coupler around its longitudinal axis.

5. A centering device for a pivotally connected coupler comprising a hollow coupler shank, an abutment in said shank extending laterally from one side and spaced from the opposite wall to form an opening therebetween, a substantially U-shaped plunger within the confines of said shank having an arm extending into said opening for guiding said plunger, laterally spaced bearing means positioned near the end of said shank, said plunger having laterally spaced bearing portions adapted to cooperate with said bearing means, and spring means between the arms 'of said plunger and reacting between said abutment and said plunger to urge said bearing' portions into engagement with said bearing means.

6. A centering device for a pivotally connected coupler comprising a hollow coupler shank, an abutment in said shank extending laterally from one side and spaced from the opposite wall to form an opening therebetween, a plunger adapted for longitudinal movement in said shank, said plunger having a pair of spaced longitudinal arms joined at one end by a transverse arm, one of said longitudinal arms extending into said opening for guiding said plunger, laterally spaced bearing means positioned near the end of said shank, said plunger having laterally spaced bearing portions adapted to cooperate with said bearing means and spring means between said arms and reacting between said abutment and said plunger to urge said bearing portions into engagement with said bearing means.

7. In combination, a car coupler having a hollow shank, tailbolt means having an enlarged forward end portion, said means being pivotally connected to said shank, spring means associated with said tailbolt means for cushioning longitudinal movement of said coupler, a front follower engaging the forward end of said spring means, a seat member interposed between said follower and said enlarged end portion of said tailbolt means, a plunger within the connes of said shank having a pair of laterally spaced bearing portions adapted for engagement with said seat member, spring means in said shank reacting against said plunger to urge said bearing portions into engagement with said seat member.

8. In combination, a coupler having a hollow shank, spring means for cushioning longitudinal movement of the coupler, follower means adjacent the forward end of said spring means, connecting means rotatably associated with respect to said spring means and follower means and pivotally joined to said coupler shank, a seat' member engaging said follower and being ron tatable with said connecting means, said member having laterally spaced bearing means, a plunger within said shank and movable longitudinally thereof, spaced bearing portions on said plunger adapted normally to engage said bearing means on said seat member, abutment means in said shank, and spring means reacting between said abutment means and said plunger to urge said bearing portions into engagement with said bearing means.

9. In combination, a rotatable coupler having a hollow shank, spring means for cushioning longitudinal movement of the coupler, a follower adjacent the forward end of said spring means, said follower having a recess in the forward side thereof, connecting means rotatably associated with respect to said follower and pivotally joined to said coupler shank, a seat member for the end of said shank adapted for rotation therewith, said member having a projection adapted to be received in said recess for normally maintaining said coupler in operative position, and centering means in said shank comprising a plunger having laterally spaced bearing portions adapted for engagement with said seat member, and spring means reacting against said shank and said plunger to urge said bearing portions into engagement with said seat member.

10. In combination, a car coupler having a hollow shank, tailbolt means pivotally connected to said shank and being resiliently mounted for movement in a longitudinal direction, said means being rotatable with respect to the car, a seat member associated with the forward end of said means and being rotatable therewith, a plunger within the confines of said shank having a pair of laterally spaced bearing portions in engagement with said seat member when said coupler is in central position, spring means in said shank reacting against said plunger to urge said bearing portions against said seat member, one or the other of said bearing portions being adapted to remain in contact with said seat member during horizontal angling of said coupler to either side of its central position.

HERBERT I-I. 'SMTHL REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent: 

